Statement: Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve

13 Oct 2015 7:19 PMMichael Hart

Statement: Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve

Member for Burleigh Michael Hart MP has this afternoon slammed the Palaszczuk Government’s push to declare Burleigh Heads to Snapper Rocks a World Surfing Reserve.

“While I am in favour of protecting our world class beaches for all to use, I am totally opposed to the declaration of a large World Surfing Reserve.”

“Taking a one size fits all approach in declaring Burleigh Heads, Snapper Rocks as well as the entire coast line in-between is an unwise and poorly thought out policy,” he said.

Mr Hart has publically outlined serious concerns that any declaration containing the word ‘reserve’ would by definition limit activities in the area to only those having no direct impact on surfing, possibly adversely effecting a wide range of other water activities enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

“Our beaches and waterways are for the enjoyment of everyone and limiting other activities in large areas of the Coast is not consistent with that concept,” Mr Hart said.

Mr Hart supports our world class point breaks being declared World Surfing Reserves, for example, a limited area around Burleigh Headland.

“For Minister Miles to prioritise the opinion of the Brisbane based Member for Springwood over that of a local MP, he clearly validates that this Government is white anting  the people of the Gold Coast, and we deserve better.”

[ENDS] 13 October 2015

Background: Minister Miles included quotations from the Member for Springwood in his media release distributed on 13 October titled ‘Double chance for Queensland in World Surfing Reserve bids’